A physical activity reference value for health promotion, 23 METs-h/week was established by the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Labour in Japan in 2006. The purpose of this study was to determine the daily step counts (steps/day) that classify adults as meeting the 23 METs-h/week reference value by using objective measurements. Objectively measured physical activity levels of 1837 Japanese adults aged from 23 - 69 yrs from both urban and rural Japanese cohorts were provided. Amount of physical activity and daily step counts were assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (Actimarker EW4800; Panasonic Electric Works). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis determined the optimal daily step counts (steps/day) that discriminated adults who met the reference value from those who did not. Approximately 48 % of Japanese adults met the 23 METs-h/week of physical activity reference value. ROC curve analysis found that 9341 steps/day produced 77.1 % of sensitivity and 79.5 % of specificity in all subject. When the analysis was performed in each cohort, 9980 steps/day and 8640 steps/day were indicated as the optimal daily step counts for them to meet 23 METs-h/week in urban and rural cohort, respectively. These data suggest that Japanese adults are likely to meet 23 METs-h/week of physical activity reference value if they accumulate between 8500 and 10,000 steps/day of daily step counts.

This study aimed to clarify the effects of a lifestyle intervention by the concurrent use of an activity monitor and Twitter on daily physical activity. Twenty-one healthy males and females (37 ± 13 yrs) were randomly assigned to Normal intervention group (N group, n = 10) or Twitter intervention group (T group, n = 11). In both groups, the intervention period was 6 weeks. Participants in N group wore an activity monitor (Lifecorder EX). Meanwhile, participants in T group were asked to tweet about their daily steps or physical activity in addition to wearing an activity monitor, and also an observer read through the tweet from each participant and commented about physical activity. There were no significant differences in daily physical activity (i.e., steps and amount of physical activity (PA)) at week 1 between both groups. In addition, no significant time-course changes in steps and amount of PA were observed in N group. In contrast, steps in T group were gradually increased from week 1 8,542 ± 3,158 steps/day to week 6 12,700 ± 3,935 steps/day (P < 0.01). Amount of PA in T group was also gradually increased from week 1 2.5 ± 1.2 METs·hour/day to week 6 4.6 ± 2.3 METs·hour/day (P < 0.01). Therefore, these findings indicate that the lifestyle intervention by the concurrent use of an activity monitor and Twitter could effectively induce an increase in daily physical activity compared with the intervention using only an activity monitor.

Several studies have shown that low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) or heavy alcohol consumption is risks of total or certain types of cancer death. However, the combined influence of CRF and drinking habits on total cancer mortality is not clear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint effect of CRF and drinking habits on total cancer mortality among Japanese men. We evaluated the CRF and drinking habits on risk of total cancer mortality in 8,760 Japanese men (age: 19-59 yr) who were given a submaximal exercise test, a medical examination test, and questionnaires on their health habits. CRF was measured using a cycle ergometer test, and the men were classified into two categories by CRF levels based on the reference value of CRF (R-CRF) in “Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2013” (Under R-CRF and Over R-CRF). Also, the men were assigned to Non Drinking, Moderate Drinking, and Heavy Drinking categories. There were 178 cancer deaths during the 20-yr follow-up period. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals for total cancer mortality were obtained using the Cox proportional hazards model while adjusting for age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, and smoking habits. Using the Under R-CRF & Heavy Drinking group as reference, the relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were 0.37 (0.16–0.85) for the Over R-CRF & Non Drinking group. This result suggests that Japanese male with a high CRF and a low drinking habit have a lower risk of total cancer mortality.

Undergraduate medical education requires learning in both science and art. We have developed a learning model for use in first-year medical education that applies art-based research, which has been developed in sociology.　This is a method in which medical students themselves conduct research while creating works of art to solve local medical, health, and welfare problems, deepening their learning. They also share their artworks with other students.　The methodology consists of four steps: [I] groundwork, [II] collection of materials, [III] fieldwork and artwork, and [IV] appreciation of interactive artwork.　In the class, students take the initiative by creating works that are full of individuality and assertiveness. This learning model is a relatively new model for medical education through which students can deepen their understanding of the art of medicine.